RIAA jackboots on the march

November 15, 2006

As a copyright-holder, I fully understand the need for copyright protections. But based on what the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and their legal eagles have been doing to the Perez family of Eugene, Oregon, I fully understand how copyright enforcement efforts can be unreasonable.

A couple of years ago, the RIAA traced some illegal downloads to Dave Perez' home computer. Two lawyers appeared at his door to take down information for a legal deposition.

Shortly therafter, a settlement company contacted Perez and said that they could broker a settlement with him if he'd hand over $4,700.

Dave Perez tells KGW.com he has spent $20,000 in lawyer's fees so far. He says he may have to sell his house.

The RIAA, basically, says that the music industry has been hurt by illegal downloads, and that lost income from the practice of people not paying for copyrighted music has cost tens of thousands of music industry jobs over the last few years.